Shifting to fourth wing ♡
Right off the bat I'm scripting a lot of things differently since I love the idea of the universe but the book itself does a pretty awful job of explaining how the world works.
Some things I'm changing:
Navarre isn't a fascist regime. (It still has problems which will be solved but im already in the US I'm not trading one hell for another.)
Basgiath and other colleges like it exist as a form of population control. (Cuz I still like the intensity of the death college premise)
Xaden and Violet dont exist in this timeline. (I'm not dealing with their drama.)
The people know about the Venin and how the war colleges are used to train soldiers to fight against them.
How basgiath works:
If you volunteer:
First you must pass a written exam and an agility exam to prove you're adequate enough to enroll. Afterwards there are trials for all quadrants on conscription day.
A knowledge trial for scribes. (To prove they will go above and beyond to preserve and maintain the archives.)
A determination trial for healers. (To prove they will do whatever it takes to save people.)
An endurance trial for the infantry. (To prove that they will keep pushing towards the betterment of their nation and people regardless of circumstances.)
And of course, a courage trial for riders, aka, the parapet.
Now some of these are more literal and some lean more towards a magical/ritual aspect, I figure it's not completly out of the ordinary given the place of signets and runes in this universe.
If you're sentenced:
Sentences to basgiath are rare but they do happen as a form of community service. Most are sentenced to the healers or scribe quadrant after careful monitoring. I imagine they have the magical equivalent of an ankle monitor. However, if you pissed off someone in the right position of power, you could be sentenced to the riders or infantry, which is basically a long winded execution. You don't get the option to take the physical or written exam. They either shove you on the parapet or on the front lines depending on the quadrant and without the proper preparation, you're pretty much guaranteed dead. However, if by some miracle you survive, youre offered a cushy life as a high ranking military officer. For this reason, some criminals do what they can to be sentenced to the infantry or Riders quadrant, seeing it as their best way out.
Next are signets:
Instead of individual powers, signets are more like a number of magical abilities that are classed differently.
A rider can have three to five abilities within one signet. Most times these include a defensive, offensive, and evasive ability.
For example: telekinesis, invisibility, and teleportation are abilities within the Phaser class.
Mind/intention reading, signet deactivation, and Astral peojection are known as Psychic class. So on and so forth.
Next up - Dragons!!
Possibly my favorite part abt this universe. God I love the dragons so much.
Tails are evolved as ways of defending oneself, as seen by Daggertails, Clubtails, Swordtails, Morningstartails, and Scorpiontails. All of which are a weapon of some sort, what I really wish to focus on are the colors.
Reds - Typically the most temperamental and picky about their riders. They have high standards and strive to push themselves and their riders to be the absolute best. Their bodies also naturally produce more adrenaline than other breeds, so they tend to outlast opponents in terms of endurance on the battlefield.
Oranges - Most think oranges are unpredictable, however this is false. Oranges have extremely sensitive senses and have a tendency to pick up on someone's charcter and intentions immediately, and reacting accordingly. They have no tolerance for untruths or secrecy, with a very strong sense of justice. For this reason they are used for trial purposes oftentimes. They are also excellent trackers and hunters.
Greens - Some say that greens are the most intelligent of the breeds, but this isn't true. Dragon intelligence is reliant on the individual, not the species. However, greens are seen to be the least impulsive of the colors. They are paitent and are more likely to reserve their energy for battles that matter. This is not to say they are not formidable when crossed. They are also the most stealthy of the breeds, having pads on their feet and thinner, more aerodynamic wings to aid in moving silently either on the ground or in the air.
Blues - Blues have the largest wings out of any of the other breeds, specialized for flying extremly long distances without tiring. They are drawn to riders who have high potential and noble blood. Having been gaurdians for the crown during the founding of Navarre. They are also considered the most dangerous given their ruthless and prideful nature. Riders of blue dragons are some of the most insufferable but efficient people you'll ever meet.
Browns - Physically the strongest of all the breeds, having a higher muscle density and bulkier build means anything in the path of a brown best either get out of the way or get flattened. Most brown dragons tend to be mature and wise, but make no mistake, they are just as willing to crush or incinerate you as any other breed.
Blacks - Notoriously rare and difficult to bond with, black dragons are on average able to channel more magic to their riders through the bond. Drawing their magic from moonlight as opposed to the core of the earth. Only certain riders are compatible with this type of magic, even fewer capable of harnessing it to it's full potential.
(No irids bc I personally don't like the concept of them.)
